Signaling device.



W. E. HEADLEY, JR, S1GNAL|NG DEWCE. APPLICATION HLED JUNE 1. m5.

1,242,690. Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

i W); L

INVENTOI? ATTORNEYS W. E. HEADLEY, JR.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPUCATION HLED sun: 1. um,v

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 TOR ATTORNEYS W. E. HEADLEY, la.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEh 1915.

Patented Oct. 9. 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 INVENTOI? ieadley, GT7:

WITNESSES:

B Mada/u 176 A TTORNEYS WILLIAM EDWARD HEADLEY, an, or MISSOULA,'1YIONTANA.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatcntedOct. 9, 191 '7.

Application filed June 1, 1915. Serial No. 31,408.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. HEADLEY, J r., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Missoula, in the county of Missoula and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in signaling devices, especially adapted for use with automobiles, for indicating the intentions of the driver, with regard to turning and the direction of turning, stopping and the like, wherein signal mechanism is or ranged, preferably at the front of the vehicle, and in a conspicuous position, the said mechanism being arranged to be electrically operated by the driver, and by the turning vtion of an automobile provided with the improvement V F ig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-- 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow adjacent to the line;

Fig. 3 is a. diagrammatic view of the wiring;

Fig.4 is an end view of the signal casing with the cover plate removed;

Fig. 5'is a section on the'line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the signal casing with parts broken away;

Fig. I is a. section on the line 7--7 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrow adj acent to the line;

Fig. 8 is a. planview of the reflector.

Fig.9 is an enlargedsection on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial front view pf the automobile showing the mounting of the casing;

Fig. 11 is a. side view of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section onthe line 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line 13--13 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a. section on the line 147-14 of Fig. 13, Figs. 12, 13 and 14 looking in the directions of the arrows adjacent to the respective lines.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with an nutomobile, the casing containing the sigmaling mechanism being arranged abovethetop of the vehicle 1. The signal casing, which comprises a body 2 and heads 3, is supported by rods or pipes 4, each rod having one end received in a central hub or sleeve 5 connected with the adjacent head of the casing, and secured thereto by means of set screws 6 or the like. The other end of each rod is bent at an angle as shown at 7 and is connected with a tubular hinge consisting of a section or leaf 8 and a section or leaf 8. The section 8 of the hinge is pivotally connected to the section 8, as shown more particularly in Fig. 14., by means of a substantially cupshaped bearing 9. This hearing has a coin tral opening through which the section 8 of the hinge extends and within the bearing the section or leaf isfianged upwardly, as shown at 10, to prcve'nt disengagemenf'of the section or leaf, while permitting it to rotate freely with respect to the hearing.

The bearing 9 at its open end partially embraces the adjacent end of the section 8 of the hinge, the said section or leaf having a head 11 of cylindrical form within the hearing, and screws 12 are passed radially through the bearing and into engagement with the head, to connect the parts together. An arc-shaped bearing plate 13 is arranged above the leaf and outside of the head, and screws 14. are passed through the bearing plate into engagement with the head.

A tubular rod or pipe 15 is connected with the lower end of the section 8 of. the hinge, and the lower end of each of the pipes or rods 15 is connected to one of the leaves or sections 16 of a hinge similar to the hinge 8-8, and comprising the leaf 16 and a. leaf 16. The leaves 16 and 16' are connected by a bearing 17 corresponding with the bearing 9, and said hinge is tubular and similar in all respects to the hinge 88", and for this reason is notfurther described.

Each hinge leaf 16 is connected to the upper end of a bracket arm 18, also tubular, and having its lower end connected to the adjacent end of the wind shield 19 of the vehicle. The hearing 9 before mentioned, is

at one end of an arc-shapedber 20', and the:

bearing 17 is at one end of an arm 21. The arc-shaped, bar 20 has a longitudinal slot 22, extending from near the bearing to near the other end of the bar, and the arm 21 has at 'the opposite end from the bearing 17 an A set screw 23 is passed through the slot particularly in lsli t),

from within outward, and the outer end of the set screw is engaged by a wing nut 24. It will be evident that when the win; nuts at the opposite sides of the vehicle are loosened, the signal casing and its sup 'iortiny, mechanism may swing, rear wardly and downwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 11. The rods or uprights 1.3 will swing as indicated in dotted lines in "the said figure, until the signal casing is directly behind the upper portion of the wind shield. The arc-shaped bars more with the signal casing, and when the signal casiii; is in its lowermost position, the set screws 2 will engage the upper ends of the slots '22 of the are-shaped bars 20. By means of the set screws 23 and the nal casing may be held in" any tion. r I

It will he noted from an inspection of Fig, 13, that-the ends of the tubular rods or pipes -l and 15 are threaded into the adjacent ends of the hinge leaves 8 and 8, and the ends of the pipe or rod 15,and the bracket 18 are similarly engaged with the leaves of the bin 16-16; a i

'1' 1e body of the signal each end by-a disk-sl'iapedhead 25,'and the headsBQwhich are approximately conical, are outside' of the heads 25. The heads 25 are held-in place hy. screws 26 -\\'liicliare passed-medially*inward through -the body into.engagement"with extending rib on the adjacent hea d 2-3,; and the large endsof'tlee 'heads 3 fit against the outer faces of the disk or-heads 25. These headsh are heldin place by means of the set screws '6 before mentioned. j

' Each of the heads has a'central hubfl'i lilting over the adjacent/tubular rod or pipe and the opening dcsi red posi- 4, and the said pipes extend through the through central 'hubs'28 m arranged within thehody of'the raising. Each of the heads 29 has an iawardlyhstendingcontinuous rib or flange :50 near its periphery. The ribs 30 are of hexagonal form, and 'thcarrange ment of the 'rihsftil 'thejwads corresponds, so that haelisectfig'in ofe'aeh rib registers with a similarsectionion the rib of the other head.

Sik slit tl'l'j'ufjglahs are arrange lie-- lii ee rll' e 11' Qgih wet being of a length heads 25, and other heads '29 to the inner surface of the other head, and g'glass enti rel y in'close the *lnitween t llehends. As shown. more a strip 32 of packing likofisarran ed between each sheet a nd' thefad'jaeent po r ion of the rib, and the slieetl ne held in plaee'by representations 33 offal-rows.

Each of theserepresentations 33 is of sheet metal. cut or stamped to shape, and provided at its ends with angular flanges 3ft. The flanges 3t abut against the inner aces space or the nuts 24, the sin casing is closed at a marginal inwardly hub 41, into which the inner I to ,eiiteiid' from] he inner surface of one head of the disks or heads 29 and are secured thereto by means-(1f screws 35. Preferably, each of the screws 35 is provided with a not lock 36 to prevent disengagement thereof.

Sundry of the sheets of glass are colored, two sheets being colored red, two green, and the remaining two being of white glass. The similarly colored sheets are oppositely arranged. the while being dirdetly opposite, as shown, and the white sheets haveaio representations or signals, the said representations orsignals being confined to the red and green sheets. The white sheets are held in place by angular clips 37, each consisting of a portion littiugthe inner face of the disk or head, and the screws 35;.are passedthrough these last named portions to secure them to the heads. It will be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 5, that the representations 33 are oppositely arranged, those of ing by a support connected to the inner ends of the'tubular rods or pipes 4.:"1h said supportcomprises a yo ce-shaped member consisting of a body 39 and arms 40, and

each arm has a rentral internally threaded end'of theadjacent rod 4; is threaded. The'u'pper ends of the armsare connected by a cross bar 42, the said bar being connected to the arms by means of screws 4-25.

The sockets 44 for the bulbs are secured to the upper face of the body 39 of the yokeshaped' member, and the bulbs are arranged in inverted position, as shown. Four reflectorsare connected with the arms of the support a reflector being arranged above and belmv-theihulb, and one at each end of the same. Of these reflectors, as shown more particularly In F g. 8,.thenpper and =lower are alike, and the end'reflectors areahke. ,The upper and lower reflectors each iconsists of two portions 1 5 and 45 extending at an obtuse angle with-respect to eachother, and each oftheend reflectors consists of two portipns '46 and'llfi", also extending at an obtuse angle. All of the reflectors are arranged with theangle between'the two portions inw'a'ril, andthe'npgmrand lower reflectors are supported .-hy the .end reflectors. Tho'ends of all of the reflectors are mitered showmniore partieuhuly in Fig. 5, and the entire refleetorissup iorted by angle plates 47, each consisting 0 two portions extending at an acute angle with respect to each other.

The angle plates are. arranged in pairs, one of the pail-slicing at each end of the reflecting system, and each angle plate has one to fit, as

'ncctcd to a pin .30 on the reflector.

of its portions bceured lo the adjacent portion of the adjacent end reflector, while the other portion is lapped upon the adjacent side of the adjacent arm, it) of the support. Screws or the like are passed through the said last named portions into engagement with the arms, and the system is so arranged that the bulbs are at the center of the system.

Eye holls it) are connected to the outer faces of the end reflectors, the eye bolts being arranged in pairs, and one pair hcing connected to each reflector. The eye bolts are connected to the. respective portions of the end rellectors. each cj'e bolt being con- The cj'c holls extend upwardly at the ends of the respective portions of the upper reflector.

The illuminating apparatus is supplied with current from a. suitable source of electrical energy interposed in a circuit consisting of lead wiresfil and 5.3. shown. the hulhs are arranged in parallel in the circuit, and from the bulbs lead wires extend through the tuhular rod 4 at the lelt of Fig. 5, and pass to the source ot'energy by way of said rod, and the rods or pipes 15 and 18, the wires passing through the hinges 88" and 1616 and entering the adjacent rod or pipe 4.

Between the heads 3 and 25 the said pipe or rod is provided with a lateral or radial opening 56, and a lead wire Til extends through the said opening into the space between the heads 3 and 25 and is connected to a binding post 57 connected to the head 25, and insulated therefrom as shown, by an insulating sleeve. ()ther binding posts 58 and 59 are connected with the said head at opposite sides of the post 57, and at opposite sides of the rod 4, and each of the said posts is insulated from the head in the same manner as the post 57.

Lea wires 60 and ()1 are connected with the posts :38 and 59, and the said wires pass inwardly through the opening 56 into the time of the pipe or rod. These wires pass from the. pipe or rod 4: at the. right of Figs. l and 5, through the adjacent hinge S 8, the pipe or rod 17', and the hinge Iii--16 to the hrackct l8, finally emerging from the said hraeket at the lower end thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will he noticed that push buttons 62 and tit-l are arranged on the steering wheel, at opposite. sides thcrcol. A pair of solenoids is mounted on the, head 25 at the right of Fig. 5. One of the solenoids til has one terminal connected with the hiiiding post 58. and one of the ter- -i-ninals of the other solenoid or is connected to the hindiug post 59. A wire (36 connects the hindinp post 57 with the other terminals tion with a radial arm 67 having a hub 68 ates with hoth solenoids, as will be evident i from an inspection of Fig. 2. When the solenoid 61- is energized the adjacent end of the core will move within the solenoid, swinging the than 07 toward the solenoid 64. 'hen the solenoid (S5 is energized, the arm 67 will he moved in the opposite direction. The solenoids are supported by lugs 72 at their ends, the said lugs being secured to the adjacent head :25 by means of screws, as shown. j

Stops 73 in the form of angle plates are arranged on the head 25, for limiting the movement of the arm, in either direction. Each stop has a threaded stem H which passes through an arc-shaped opening 75 in the head, and each stem is engaged by a nut 76 on the opposite side of the head for holding the stop in adjusted position. The arm and the core are normally held in centraliposition by means of coiled springs 77. These springs at their upper ends are connected with a lag Tb extending inwardly from the head 25, and they diverge at their lower ends, each spring being connected at its lower end to a radial arm 751k on a collar 80 on the sleeve U9. That endof the sleeve 69 adjacent to the head or disk 2%) provided with clutch teeth 8?, which are designed to engage similar teeth on the adjacent end of the hub 28 of the said disk 29.

The arms 79 extend in opposite directions, and the collar is held to the'sleeve by set screws 8]. The lug has a base 82, which is secured to the. inner face of the head 25 by set screws 83, and the said lug has an areshaped opening S4. through which is passed an arc-shaped bar 85, the sa id bar being of circular cross section, as shown, and the bar is held in adjusted position by means of a set screw 86. The bar 85 extends at its outer ends into the solenoids, and the. said solenoids are curved or are-sliaped. This bar might also limit the movement of the core 70, in its movement in either direction.

The wiring or circuit for operating the improved signal is shownin Fig. 3. i In this view, the casing shown diagramunitically at 88, contains the hulhs 38 which are supplied with current by the lead wires 54 and The wire 64 extends to a connection with a lead wire 89, which is comicctcd at one end with'one of the terminals of a battery 90 or other suitable source of electrical energy. From the said ter'minal the. lead wire 89 2561 is branched onto and the ;witch arm 40 ated by the turning 45. apparatus,

passes to a connection with a contact late or member 91, arranged at one side 0 the steering wheel, of arc-shape, as shown.

The push button 63 on the steering wheel is interposed in the said,lead wire, and a branch 92 leads from the said lead wide 89 to another contact member or plate 91 at the opposite side of the steering wheel. The push button 62 on the steering wheel is interposed in this wire 92. The-steering wheel is provided with a switch arm 93, and the said arm is designed to engage beneath the contact members 91 and 91 when the wheel is swun or oscillated in opposite directions. When t e wheel is moved in one direction, the switch arm 9:3 will contact with the member 91, while when the said wheel is swung in the opposite direction, the switch arm will contact, with the plate or. member 91. The lead wires and 61 before men tioned, are branched onto the wires 92 and 89, res ectively, the wire 60 being branched onto t e wire 92 between the push button 62 and the contact plate 91, and the wire the lead wire 89 beu'sh button 63 and the contact he binding post 58 is connected terminals of the solenoid 64 94 while the binding post 59 e corresponding terminal a lead tween the plate 91.

to one of the by a lead wire is connected to t ofthe solenoid 65 by wire 95. The lead wire 66 connects the binding post 57 tothe ad] ace'nt terminals of the solenoid. A

cut out switch is arranged in the lead wire 93 on'the steering wheel is connected to the lead wire 89, by a lead wire 97, and acut out switch 98 is inter osed in this lead wire.

e signaliing mechanism may be operof the steering wheel. When thedriver intends to turn to the right, ,gfor instance, he will press 'the push button 62. The. current passes from battery by way of the lead wire 54, to the illuminating returning to battery-by way of .the lead wire 55. It also asses by way of the lead wire 54 to the binding post 57 throu h theextension of the said lead wire 54. rom the binding post 57 the current 50 passes by way of the lead wires-66 to the lenoid 64., returning to battery by way of the lead wires'94, 66, 92 and 89.

r The solenoid 64 is energized and the core is drawn thereinto, moving the arm 67 55" iria'direction ,to cause the signal support to I ithe vehicle will turn,

' '60 button 62',

, right, the switch arm '93 ,dis lay the representation of an arrow (which points in the direction toward which that is, to the right. Should the operator fail to de ress the the signal will still be is layed, he turns the steering wil x The current now passeh from batteryby way of the lead wire returning for when the contact member 91*.

whee to the contact with by way ofthe le'ad wire 55. The current also passes by we of the extension of the lead wire 54 to t e binding post 57 and from thence by way of the lead wire 66 to the solenoid 64, returning to battery by way of the lead wires 94, 60, 9'2 and 89.

When the operator intends to turn to the left, he Will depress the push button 63. The current now passes by way of the lead wire 54 to the illuminating apparatus, returning by way of the lead wire 55. By way of the extension of the lead wire 54 the current passes to the binding post 57 and from thence by way of the lead wire 66 to the solenoid 65, returning to battery by way of the lead wires 95, 61 and 89.

Should the operator fail to press the button, the contact of the switch plate 93 with the contact member 91 will display the signals. The current passes from the battery by way of the lead wire 54 to the illuminating apparatus, returning by way of the lead wire 55.

The current also passes by way of the extension of the lead wire 54 to the binding post 57 and from thence by way of the lead wire 66 to the solenoid 65, returning to the battery by way of the lead wires 95, 61, 97 and 89. -In either case, the core 70 is drawn into the solenoid 65, moving the arm 67 in a direction to cause the proper signal to be displayed at the opening 2 of the signal casing.

The adjustable connection between the core and its support permits the position of the core with respect to the support to be varied.

I claim:

1. In a signal for motor vehicles, and in combination with the signaling means, supporting members hingedly connected, signal operating means passing through the su porting members and the hinge connections thereo an arc-shaped bar projectingfrom an element of a hinge joint, an arm extending from an element of another hin e joint, and means for securing the bar and arm to hold the signaling means in the required adjusted position.

2. In a signal for motor vehicles, and in combination with signaling means, a horizontal member carrying and having her hinged at one end to the 8.11%.11211 end of the horizontal member, a brac et member hinged to the opposite end of the vertical member, signaling operating means passing through the several members and their hinge connections, an arc-shaped bai projectin from the hinge at one end of the vertica the signaling means i an angular end, a. vertical mem member, an arm extending firom thehinge connecting .the bar 3. In combination with an automobile having upwardly extending tubular supporting brackets at the ends of the wind shield and extending above the top, a tubular upright hinged to each bracket, a tubular rod hinged to the upper end of each upright and extending inwardly, a signal casing supported by the rods between the uprights, said uprights being mounted to swing with respect to the brackets to bring the signal casing above the wind shield or behind the same, signal mechanism within the casing, controlling means for the sa d mechanism passing through the tubular rods, urn'ights, brackets and hinges, and means in connection with the uprights and the brackets for holding the signal casing in adjusted iosition, said means comprising arc-shaped slotted liars, each bar having a earing at its u apt-r end in which the hinge Letween the at jacent rod and upright is journaled, an arm having a bearing in which the hinge between the upright and the bracket is journalcd, said arm having an (.pening registering with the slot of the bar, and a bolt engaging the opening and the slot, and a nut engaging the bolt.

4. In combination with an automobile having upwardly extending tubular supporting brackets at the ends of the wind shield and extending above the top, a tubular support hinged to each bracket, a tubular rod hinged to the upper end of each upright and extending inwardly, a signal casing supported by the rods between the uprights, said uprights being mounted to swing with respect to the brackets to bring the signal casing above the wind shield or behind the same, signal mechanism within the casing, controlling means for the said mechanism passing through the tubular rods, uprights, brackets and hinges. and means in connection with the n rights and brackets for holding the signa casing in adjusted position.

5. A signaling device for automobiles for indicating the direction of turning and comprising a substantially cylindrical casing 1 aving an opening in its front, a signal suprt mounted to rotate in the casing and iaving transparent panels adapted to register with the opening, opaque signals in connection with sundry of the panels for indieating the direction of turning. and electrically controlled means for rotating the sighills and for illuminating the same, the illuminating means being within the support, and the rotating means comprising a pair of arc-shaped solenoids held within the easing, an arc-shaped core having connection with the signal support and arranged between the solenoids' nd adapted to be moved into the solenoids a ternatively, and an electrical circuit having a source of energy and in which the illuminating means and the solenoids are interposed.

6. A signaling device for automobilesj for indicating the direction of turning and comprising a substantially cylindrical casing having an opening in its front, a signal support mounted to rotate in the casing and having transparent panels adapted to register with the opening. opaque signals in connection with sundry of the panels for indieating the direction of turning, andelectrically controlled means for rotating the signals and for illuminating the same, the illuminating means being within the support, and the rotating means comprising a pair of arc-shaped solenoids held within the casing, an arc-shaped core arranged between the solenoids and adapted to be moved into the solenoids alternatively, a radial arm ad justably connected with the core intermediate the ends thereof, and with the axis of the signal support, for rotating the said support when the arm is moved, and an electrical circuit having a source of energy and in which the illuminating means and the solenoids are interposed.

7. A signaling device for automobiles, comprising a substantially cylindrical casing having an opening, a signal support mounted to oscillate in the opening, said casing having shafts extendin axially therefrom, brackets adapted to be connected to the ends of the wind shield, arms extending longitudinally from the ends of the brackets and journaled thereon to swing into vertical or horizontal position, and means in connection with the brackets and the arms for securing the arms in adjusted position, said brackets, arms and shafts being hollow and communicating for the purpose specified.

8. A signalin device for automobiles, eon'iprising a substantially cylindrical casing having an opening, a signal support mounted to oscillate in the opening, said casing having shafts extending axially therefrom, brackets adapted to be connected to the ends of the wind shield, arms extending longitudinally from the ends of the brackets and jonrnaled thereon to swing into vertical or horizontal osition, and means in connection with the )raekcts and the arms for securing the arms in adjusted position.

WILLIAM EDWARD HEADLEY, Ja.

\Vi tnesses Hnoir Cameron, H. H. Scanner. 

